Back to the Wall

[Cloud]

Darkfur was excited and repulsed. Though hardly in equal measure; the excitement overtook the replusion by a long shot. The repulsion was more of a lingering sensation of small shock that was barely acknowledged. But his delight at having something to work with was overflowing from his very self; his eyes were bright with happiness, his paws shifting back and forth, his tail wildly up and moving from side to side. Words spilled from him like a stream.

"This is exactly what I mean. My ideas - if you would listen - would save us all. Will you fine cats, the first to truly listen to me, deny the chance to hear what could be your saving grace? For I can speak of plans for the future that would prevent such crude and unruly things as murder.

The free groups cats could be in would provide a sense of both order and choice. No cat would have to stay where they wanted, murders and fights would be prohibited with the punishment of death for murderers, fighters would merely have penalties. You could follow your choice of individual depending on their ideas! You could choose your own leader and space!"

His face lit up. Not implementing ideas, not helping cats, not troubling over emotions. Just advertising speaking. This was what the tom desired.

[Darky [Megan]]

Speckledclaw's eyes glinted menacingly as Darkfur spoke. His eyes were alight with joy, with only a flicker of shock registering upon hearing the word 'murder'. Disgusted, Speckledclaw took a threatening step forward. This tom's intentions were quite clear now.

"Clear off," she snapped bluntly, not bothering to take up a proper offensive stance but remaining very alert about the tom's movements nonetheless. "If you're just here to preach, then you'd be far better off getting lost."

[Cloud]

Huh. It looks like he'd have to humor her. The muscular cat yawned. He'd said what he wanted to say anyway, he had no further purpose for being here. "Very well. I will, as you say, clear off. And by the way, I don't preach. I annunciate." Turning, he began to saunter off.

[Darky [Megan]]

Speckledclaw remained glaring at his back as the tom walked further and further away. "Pfft, 'annunciate' my foot. That tom had better watch out or he might end up twisting some tails," she murmured.

Then she turned to Rainstripe. Assuming a much gentler tone of voice, she asked, "How are you now?"

[duckyaisha]

Rainstripe was utterly confused at what had just happened. The annoying tom had started talking, and then Speckledclaw scared him away, that part was certain. But she was still unsure about what exactly he had meant by his words. Did he want to form a Clan? The thought made her feel sick inside, though, strangely, for a different reason.

Originally, she hadn't wanted to join a Clan because she didn't like being around other cats. That was still true, well, partially. Now there was a different reason for her not wanting to join a Clan. Not surprisingly, it was associated with the new part of her, the one responsible for all the sudden changes that had been happening recently. Now, she didn't want to join a Clan because she did not want to be told what to do. That was a completely different opinion than that of the rest of her brain. She didn't mind following directions, as long as the cat giving them was someone she knew. But now, the new part of her wanted to be the one to /give/ the directions.

Shoving the thoughts out of her mind, she turned to Speckledclaw. "I-I'm fine," she meowed, her shaky voice revealing just how /not/ fine she was.

[Ten]

Frozenheart glared after Darkfur, wishing he had acted sooner to make him leave. That little Clanner-in-denial had just ripped Rainstripe's serenity from her paws again. The white tom sat and began washing her shoulder in warm, rhythmic strokes, but as he did so he noticed rats stirring not far away. He gave Rainstripe a nudge, caught Speckledclaw's eye, and looked back in that direction. Perhaps a bit of meat would do her good?

[duckyaisha]

The sight of the rats made Rainstripe's stomach growl. Licking her lips, her claws slid out in anticipation. She was hungry, having not eaten more than a few crickets since the murder. Perhaps some real food would make it easier for her to resist the new part of her, the one she did not want. "You're right. Let's hunt." With her, Frozenheart, and Speckledclaw, it would be near impossible for a rat to escape.

[Darky [Megan]]

Speckledclaw had hunted earlier, but she was not about to object doing it again, especially now that she needed something to help her relax. Comforting Rainstripe had made her dip into instincts she never really unearthed, and the new sensations were, though not alien in the least, a little uncomfortable for a hunter.

Speckledclaw nodded at Frozenheart and looked at Rainstripe. She seemed hungry and ready to hunt, which was a good thing, but the fact that she had seemed to speak of violent instincts in her head when she had broken down made the warrior somewhat unsure of how she would react to outright killing a rat. This was common form for any cat, but it was enough to make hunters rejoice at the sensation, and could bring back memories of the murder.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Speckledclaw asked bluntly, after padding a few steps forward. If Rainstripe was sure she would not be disturbed in any way by killing a rat, she was more than ready to help the distraught she-cat on a quicker road to recovery. The sooner she got used to the fact that she had witnessed a gruesome murder and had discovered the fighter within her, the sooner she would be able to control these new instincts and use them to her advantage.

[duckyaisha]

"Of course I'm ready!" she meowed indignantly. Like she hadn't killed a rat before. She wasn't a kit. She could hunt by herself if she wanted to, just not a rat. And besides, why wouldn't she be ready? Rats and cats were as different as day and night! Killing a rat was hunting, and killing a cat was murder. Even the tiniest kit knew that. Hopefully, hunting would help her control the new part of her, the violent one. Maybe if it finally felt blood and fur in its claws it wouldn't be so persistent and let her live her own life, without having to control something more powerful than her.

[Darky [Megan]]

ooc
Continued right here!